ISLAMABAD: Courts in Islamabad and Lahore have provided significant relief to several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in protest-related legal cases.
In Islamabad, Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Ahmed acquitted senior PTI leaders including party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub.
The acquittals came in two cases registered at the Karachi Company Police Station, relating to a protest held on April 26, 2024.
The court accepted acquittal applications in case numbers 425 and 498 after reviewing arguments from both sides.
The protest, which began at PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen’s office and moved toward Karachi Company, allegedly violated Section 144 and other legal provisions.
Acquittal Based on Lack of Evidence
During the proceedings, PTI leaders Shoaib Shaheen and Muhammad Ali Bukhari appeared in person.
Exemption pleas for Gohar and Ayub were submitted and accepted by the court.
Defence lawyers argued that the FIRs were filed by unrelated complainants and highlighted that eight individuals arrested during the protest were already discharged during investigation.
The magistrate also addressed the non-appearance of co-accused Amir Dogar and Amir Mughal, whose cases were decided on merit.
The court ultimately acquitted all key accused including Barrister Gohar, Omar Ayub, Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari, Malik Rafique, and others.
Qureshi Gets Bail in May 9 Riots Case
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore granted post-arrest bail to former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The bail relates to an attack on the Shadman Police Station during the May 9, 2023 riots.
ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill approved the bail against surety bonds worth Rs100,000.
Qureshi’s counsel maintained that the PTI leader was in Karachi with his wife for medical reasons on the day of the incident and was not present in Lahore.
He argued that no evidence supported the conspiracy allegation, and several co-accused had already been granted bail.
The court deferred a decision until June 26 on another bail plea concerning the burning of police vehicles near Lahore Corps Commander House.
In a related development, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema also filed a bail petition in the same case.
The court gave the prosecution more time to submit records and adjourned the hearing till June 24.
